Lepidoptera of Tasmania

[Archduke]

Was doing some research and came across this site on Tasmanian butterflies and moths.

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/Taxanomic.php

some pictures inside the website
http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/LYCAENIDAE//Neolucia-agricola-1.jpg

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/NYMPHALIDAE//Heteronympha-cordace-1.jpg

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/NYMPHALIDAE//Heteronympha-merope-2.jpg
i got something like this that i found dead outside my garden when i 1st moved in.

[Commander]

You should buy back some books on Aussie butterflies when you come back. Post the pics/descriptions/links of books that you happen to come across, and start taking orders for us!

[Great Mormon]

Mark, have u seen this butterfly?

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/showspecies.php?family=PAPILIONIDAE&genus=Graphium&species=macleayanus&picid=1

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/PAPILIONIDAE//Graphium-macleayanus-1.jpg

Looks like they also have the monarch butterfly down there too, would be interesting if you could snap a few photos of those as well :)

If you see any interesting plants, do help me bring back some seeds and cuttings too.

[Commander]

The drawing of that Graphium looks strange... I know what the real thing looks like.

The Monarch is called the "Wanderer" in Australia and NZ. Some differences in common English names, so have to depend on their scientific names for proper referencing. Also, Lime Butterfly is called "Chequered Swallowtail" there.

[Archduke]

i can help with the books, but as for photos i may have to wait till october or later after winter ends to be able to see any life. its too cold for anything here now.

[Commander]

i can help with the books, but as for photos i may have to wait till october or later after winter ends to be able to see any life. its too cold for anything here now.

Actually, I was referring to photos of the books. ;P

[Painted Jezebel]

The drawing of that Graphium looks strange... I know what the real thing looks like.

The Monarch is called the "Wanderer" in Australia and NZ. Some differences in common English names, so have to depend on their scientific names for proper referencing. Also, Lime Butterfly is called "Chequered Swallowtail" there.

I agree that the colour is strange. There is a good photo in 'All Colour Book of Butterflies' by Robert Goodden. The photo is by Bernard D'Abrera. I reproduce it here.

In Britain, the Monarch is called The Milkweed.

[Grass Demon]

I have seen the Graphium macleayanus in Kuranda, Cairns which is very far North so it is unlikely to be found in Tasmania:-( . It is not as big as the picture shows.

I dug out a small book on Australian Tropical Butterflies by Peter Valentine (1991). According to the book, there were 385 known species of Australian butterflies then including 39 from Tasmania. Unfortunately, there is no illustration of the butterfly that you found in your garden, Mark. However, this is a very common Australian butterfly, especially in the Blue Mountains of Sydney.

2 species of butterflies you can look out in Tasmania are:
Meadow Argus, Junonia villida, very similar to the Lemon Pansy of Malaya.
Common Grass-Blue, Zizinia labradus.

[Wanderer]

the dead butt looks rather prisitine, so it is possible that the SAM BUTTERFLIES are collected after death? :sweat:




Was doing some research and came across this site on Tasmanian butterflies and moths.

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/Taxanomic.php

some pictures inside the website
http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/LYCAENIDAE//Neolucia-agricola-1.jpg

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/NYMPHALIDAE//Heteronympha-cordace-1.jpg

http://www.moths.sleepy-lizard.net/leps/NYMPHALIDAE//Heteronympha-merope-2.jpg
i got something like this that i found dead outside my garden when i 1st moved in.

[Commander]

the dead butt looks rather prisitine, so it is possible that the SAM BUTTERFLIES are collected after death? :sweat:

Don't even dream about it. Ask Ai Ling or Yeok Keong who have by now bred thousands of butterflies. Those seen at SAM are tropical butterflies of the genus Delias and Cepora both species of the Pieridae family. These butterflies are fragile and not often seen in pristine condition, what more 109 of them! ;P

[vespa_bicolor]

I suppose the one in the photo isn't actually dead, Mark meant he had a similar species dead outside his garden.

[Archduke]

yup... those pictures are from the website.

steven: yes i've observed that Meadow Argus, Junonia villida fluttering around almost everywhere i go but not the Common Grass-Blue, Zizinia labradus.

i'll take a picture of the dead butt i found and post it as soon as i am done with my assignments.